- Published
When Brighton lost at home to Crystal Palace in February, Fabian Hurzeler was booed by his own supporters and subjected to chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning".
asserted
you → publish → morning
"There are only two options," said the German after the 1-0 defeat by their fierce rivals left his team floundering 14th in the table with one win in 12 Premier League matches.
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defeat → be → matches
"Give up or keep pushing harder, and that's always the option I choose in my life."
Eight months on, Brighton are reaping the benefits of keeping faith with the man who became the youngest permanent manager in Premier League history when he was appointed in June 2024 at the age of 31.
Palace return to Amex Stadium on Sunday (14:00 BST kick-off) to face opponents who are third in the table after statement wins over defending champions Arsenal and Europa League winners Aston Villa.
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who → give → Arsenal
Hurzeler's stock has rocketed after 11 wins in 18 top-flight games, a run that has propelled the Seagulls back into Europe and left fans - who shouted "you don't know what you're doing" at him just a few months ago - worried that he could be lured away.
uncertain
he → rocket → him
Following last Saturday's win at Sunderland, there was chat on the post-match phone-ins that Hurzeler, rewarded with a new long-term contract before the end of last season and given £150m to spend on signings in the summer, could be a prime target for a big club looking for a manager.
uncertain
Hurzeler → follow → manager
"You learn more about yourself and the people around you when you are losing games," former Brighton striker Glenn Murray told BBC Sport in reference to last season's poor run.
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Murray → learn → run
"Hurzeler has come out the other side and the way he has got this group of players performing is exceptional."
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group → come → players
Scott McCarthy, from the We Are Brighton fan site, said Hurzeler appeared to have lost the crowd to such a degree at one stage last season than even a few wins would not be enough to turn it around.
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wins → say → it
"He looked like a manager who was out of ideas," McCarthy told BBC Sport.
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McCarthy → look → Sport
"Leaving the stadium after losing at home to Palace, the only conversation fans were having was: 'he has got to go'.
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he → leave → Palace
It's worked out phenomenally.
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It → work → ?
"
Will Brighton manage to keep hold of Hurzeler, who has gone from managing in Germany's fifth tier to reported interest, external from Manchester United?
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who → manage → United
The determination Hurzeler demonstrated in the face of anger from fans following last season's defeat by Palace has been evident throughout his 10-year coaching career.
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Hurzeler → demonstrate → career
In 2016, after one injury too many following spells in the reserves at Bayern Munich, Hoffenheim and 1860 Munich, the former midfielder gave up playing professionally to accept a player-manager role at German fifth-tier side Pipinsried at the age of 23.
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midfielder → follow → 23
It was the start of a coaching journey that has led to the Premier League.
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that → lead → League
To make ends meet at village club Pipinsried, which is about 30 miles from Munich, football-obsessed Hurzeler worked for an art dealer selling paintings to wealthy Bavarians.
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Hurzeler → make → Bavarians
In an interview with the Guardian, external in 2024, he revealed he was fired from that job because he was spending too much time watching games.
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he → reveal → games
"If you want to sell something to a person, you have to try to convince them by doing something," he said when comparing selling pictures to managing Premier League players.
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he → want → players
"And you can't go there and say: 'Look at this picture, it's an amazing picture'.
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it → go → picture
You have to understand the needs and the wishes from the clients.
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You → have → clients
"The most important thing is to understand the person behind the player.
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thing → understand → player
How is he educated?
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he → educate → ?
Where does he get education?"
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he → get → education
Hurzeler's obsession to succeed runs deep.
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obsession → succeed → ?
While managing St Pauli - who he left in 2024 to join Brighton after guiding the Hamburg club back to the Bundesliga following a 13-year absence, external - he was invited to Tottenham's training ground to watch Ange Postecoglou's side train.
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side → manage → ground
Hurzeler - who was born in Houston, Texas, before moving to Germany at the age of two - asked so many questions that Postecoglou had to ask another member of his coaching staff to step in and take over.
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Postecoglou → bear → staff
He also picked up tips from Roberto de Zerbi at Brighton, a few months before replacing him after Kieran McKenna,, external who had been heavily linked with the job, opted to stay at newly promoted Ipswich.
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who → pick → Ipswich
Despite respectable back-to-back eighth-placed finishes, Hurzeler's time at Brighton has not been without its difficult moments.
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time → place → moments
In addition to fans calling for his dismissal last season, the Seagulls were thrashed 7-0 at Nottingham Forest in his first season in charge, while former Arsenal and England defender Martin Keown labelled Hurzeler "wet behind the ears", external on the BBC's Final Score following Brighton's 4-2 defeat at Chelsea in September 2024.
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Keown → call → September
So what is the reason for the shift in fortunes since his own fans called for his dismissal?
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fans → call → dismissal
"It's partly because Hurzeler went back to basics," adds McCarthy.
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McCarthy → go → basics
"He relied on an experienced core in the side to get out of the hole, which is testament to him because it shows his pragmatic side.
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it → rely → side
You get managers who are wedded to their philosophy and won't change.
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who → get → philosophy
"Hurzeler realised what he was doing was not working and that it could cost him his job, so tried something else.
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it → realise → something
You can now see this is a team more in his image, because they press insanely.
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they → see → image
"
Will Hurzeler leave Brighton if another club comes for him, or stay and attempt to write his name in club folklore by qualifying for the Champions League?
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club → leave → League
"I personally don't think he will go," says McCarthy.
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McCarthy → think → ?
He didn't become a Premier League manager at the age of 31 without having his head screwed on.
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head → become → 31
"Does he want to go to another club where he isn't going to get time?
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he → want → time
What has happened at Brighton has shown he needs two-and-a-half-years to build a squad.
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he → happen → squad
…and 5 more, not listed.
The Aporia
